| Ask any good gardener and they will explode any | | | | Some plants require more attention in certain seasons, |
| ideas you may have that an attractive low | | | | particularly during the summer months when growing is |
| maintenance garden grows out of planting a few | | | | at its peak. Be prepared to give them a little attention |
| random plants here and there. No. To have an | | | | as needed. This is a low maintenance garden we are |
| attractive garden, it all starts with a design in your mind. | | | | creating - there is no such thing as a beautiful no |
| A little research and planning will save you endless | | | | maintenance garden! |
| hours of work in the long run. Begin by deciding what | | | | Bulbs are easy to keep, they come back year after |
| variety of plants you want to have around your home | | | | year with little input from you. Flowers that seed |
| and where you want to plant them. Take into account | | | | themselves are a delight for the lazy gardener. |
| what the plant's needs are, i.e., soil type, drainage, and | | | | Most soil needs a boost to produce good healthy |
| sunlight. Low maintenance means slow growing plants | | | | plants. It is a simple matter to buy compost by the bag |
| that do not require constant trimming. | | | | or save yourself some money by making your own. |
| Choose easy-care plants, well placed to give that | | | | Recycle your kitchen waste, including paper and |
| landscaped look in the garden. Carefully study the | | | | cardboard. A compost bin keeps it all nice and tidy, or |
| space required by each plant and then draw a sketch | | | | simply dump the waste materials in a far corner of |
| of your plan before you do anything. Vines add interest | | | | your garden, turning it over occasionally. This produces |
| to any uninteresting walls. | | | | dark rich soil. |
| Trees and shrubs that do not easily shed their leaves | | | | Bamboo makes a nice backdrop in the back yard, |
| save you having to rake up dead leaves too often. | | | | providing you with privacy. Once planted, they hardly |
| There are a number of varieties of shrubs and trees | | | | need any attention at all. Forest plants and trees are |
| to suit the low maintenance garden. Speak to a | | | | generally self sufficient. Buy perennials that require no |
| knowledgeable assistant at your local garden center | | | | fertilizer - ask your nursery official for guidance in |
| for advice if you are not familiar with evergreens | | | | choosing them. If you plan to use flowing water, it's |
| yourself. | | | | often better to have a professional design a water |
| Flowers add color like nothing else can, so you want | | | | garden for you. |
| some to brighten up your surroundings. Again, at your | | | | So, are your beginning to understand creating a low |
| garden center, ask for those flowers that grow under | | | | maintenance garden is not difficult? The trick is to plan |
| any climatic conditions as they require less attention. | | | | well. Decide what you want and where to put it. Costs |
| You can get a selection of flowering plants that require | | | | need not be high and the pleasure you get from your |
| very little watering. | | | | garden will continue for many years to come. |